RHDH grade 12 students and SAVE committee members Daniel Buboire and Morgan Brine offer elementary students in grades four to six suggestions for their anti-bullying artwork Friday afternoon as part of Doors For Change, a Cumberland County wide anti-bullying campaign designed to tackle the issue of bullying in schools. Over 70 River Hebert students participated in Doors For Change this week.

RIVER HEBERT-Over 70 River Hebert students put brush to pallet during National Anti-Bullying week as a means of tackling this serious issue head on.

On Tuesday, over 40 RHDH students participated in Doors For Change, a 2012 NSCC business administration class initiative that continues to show growth.

“Doors for Change is a fundraising idea we came up with for the for Students Against Victimizing Endeavours committee,” said grade 11 RHDH student Shenya White. “All of the students in the school had the opportunity to make a picture or write a quote about bullying or abuse. All the pictures will be put together in a collage to make a door decal. It's like a big sticker that you plaster on a door.”

White is one of 20 RHDH/E SAVE committee members in grades six to 12, a committee that is overseen by RHDH guidance counsellor Chris Weeks.

“The door is a symbolic entry point to a safe space for someone who’s being bullied or for a self-identified bully to go through and get help,” stated Cumberland Health Authority (CHA) employee Jayme MacLellan.

On Friday, 30 elementary students in grades four to six, who received peer-to-peer mentoring from SAVE committee members White; grade 10 student Brent Melanson; grade 11 student Aislinn Falvey and grade 12 students Morgan Brine, Daniel Buboire and Summer Upshaw, created their own anti-bullying art work.

“Doors For Change takes place in a party atmosphere such as this, which includes music,” said MacLellan. “Maggie’s Place applied for the Mental Health and Addictions Community Grant through the Department of Health and Wellness.”

The CHA has also partnered with CCRSB, NSCC and the YMCA on this project.

Prior to RHDE, the CHA had done 16 Doors for Change across Cumberland County in such schools as Springhill Jr./Sr. High, Junction Road Elementary, West End Elementary School, Parrsboro Regional High School, Amherst Regional High School, Pugwash District High School, and Oxford Regional Education Centre.

“E.B. Chandler is next,” said MacLellan. “We’ve received positive feedback.”

“We did this Tuesday over at the high school,” said Melanson. “All we’re trying to do is to get people to help stop bullying. Some of the younger children don’t know a lot about bullying yet, so we wanted to help explain to them what bullying is.”

Elementary students received free Doors For Change bracelets while junior/senior high school students received Doors For Change t-shirts for their participation.

“I think that it’s a great opportunity,” stated grade five/six teacher Denise Dickinson. “It gives them an opportunity to express themselves, and, it goes well with what we did with WITS last week (at OREC). They’ve done a great job.”

RHDH grade 12 students and SAVE committee members Daniel Buboire and Morgan Brine offer elementary students in grades four to six suggestions for their anti-bullying artwork Friday afternoon as part of Doors For Change, a Cumberland County wide anti-bullying campaign designed to tackle the issue of bullying in schools. Over 70 River Hebert students participated in Doors For Change this week.